State to assist Redlands with housing strategy

The Queensland Government will step in to develop a housing supply and diversity strategy for Redland City following the council’s inability to update its outdated City Plan over many years.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Local Government and Planning Steven Miles said Redland City Council’s current City Plan, does not provide sufficient housing supply or diversity to address population growth.

“The current housing strategy for the city is dated 2011 and is based on 2006 population data, meaning it does not take into account significant population and housing challenges in the past decade,” Mr Miles said.

“For example, the current strategy identified a dwelling target of 66,200 by 2031, however, as of 2021, there is already a total of 65,200 dwellings in the Redlands area.

“Redlands has been asked repeatedly to update its housing strategy but has declined to do so.

“The people of Redlands – now and into the future – need affordable homes urgently.”

In a letter sent to Redland City Council, Mr Miles said he would be exercising powers under the Planning Act to ‘urgently undertake the strategy and consider what amendments are needed to the City Plan to facilitate the range of housing needs identified by the strategy’.

“The purpose of the strategy is to investigate housing supply and diversity in the Redland area and provide the evidence base for my consideration of any amendments required to the City Plan,” Mr Miles said.

“Now more than ever, it’s vital that all local governments have well positioned planning schemes to support housing choice. This includes removing regulatory impediments that prevent a variety of housing."

Mr Miles said Queensland Government officials had worked with the Redland City Council on the need for a new housing strategy reflective of the current and future trends, and continued to work with council in attempts to resolve the lack of housing choice and diversity in the Redland area.

“Effective planning and management of growth is a shared responsibility of both state and local government,” Mr Miles said.

“The State Government is committed to working with and supporting the council to ensure the strategy achieves the state interest for housing supply and diversity, as well as the council’s objectives and community expectations in planning for growth in the Redland area.

“However, as this has been communicated on a number of occasions, I am now taking this extraordinary step to get this done.

“The Queensland Government will also consider the need for additional infrastructure including roads, sewage and water, schools and community facilities that would support more housing in the region.”

Mr Miles said department officers would be available to support other Councils on their housing strategy.

ENDS

Media contact: Amy Hunter – 0423 651 484